The statue of veteran Indian thinker Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar at the UN Headquarters in New York.
The statue of Gandhi, which was erected in the “prestigious” North Lawn of the UN building, is a gift from India government to the United Nations as India gets ready for UNSC presidency.
The black-stone statue is designed by renowned Indian sculptor Padma Shree awardee Ram Sutar, who also designed the ‘Statue of Unity’ in Gujarat.
In a statement, the UN Chief said: "It’s a great pleasure to join you today to mark the installation of this bust of Mahatma Gandhi. I thank the government and Permanent Mission of India for donating this tribute to one of the giants of the modern age."
He continued: "My visit to India earlier this year reminded me that there are few people in history who are so aligned with the goals and values of the United Nations as Mahatma Gandhi."
Guterres also indicated that late Mahatma Gandhi was an uncompromising advocate for peaceful co-existence, non-discrimination and pluralism.
"Gandhi-ji’s anti-imperialist vision was foundational for the United Nations. As the Charter states, our Organization is built on the principle of “equal rights and self-determination of peoples”. Indeed, the drafters of the Charter took great inspiration from Gandhi’s message of peace, non-violence, and tolerance," Gutress explained.
He also noted that "Gandhi’s success in mobilizing millions for anti-colonial resistance, while adhering to the principles of non-violence, inspired people across the world. But Gandhi is not only a historical figure. His visionary ideas and values, including his concern for justice and social transformation, continue to resonate today."
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